exchange

didn't exchange more than three words with someone

to say hardly anything to someone. (The number may vary.) I know Tom was there, but I am sure that I didn't exchange more than three words with him before he left. We hardly exchanged more than two words the whole evening. Sally and Liz didn't have enough time to exchange more than five words.

See also: didn't, more, three, word

exchange something for something

to trade something for something else. I will exchange this one for a larger size. Can this be exchanged for something more suitable?

exchange something with someone

to trade something with someone. I exchange Christmas presents with him, but I never see him otherwise. Let's exchange coats with each other.

exchange no more than

some number of words with someone and not exchange more than some number of words with someone; hardly exchange more than some number of words with someone; scarcely exchange more than some number of words with someone to say hardly anything to someone. (Always negative.) I know Tom was there, but I am sure that I didn't exchange more than three words with him before he left. We hardly exchanged more than two words the whole evening. Sally and Liz didn't have enough time to exchange more than five words.

See also: more

in exchange (for someone or something)

in return for someone or something. They gave us two of our prisoners in exchange for two of theirs. I gave him chocolate in exchange for some licorice. John gave Mary a book and got a sweater in exchange.

substitute someone for (someone else) and substitute something for something else

to exchange someone or something for someone or something else; to replace someone or something with someone or something else. Shall I substitute Fred for Mary in the front office? Please substitute fish for beef on my dinner order.

See also: substitute

substitute for someone or something

to serve as a replacement for someone or something. I have to substitute for Roger at work this weekend. Do you think that this will substitute for the one you wanted?

See also: substitute